Chapter 493 Shadowleaf Forest
As the three girls approached, Zarina scrutinized them with narrowed eyes. However, she shifted her gaze back to him and nodded in agreement.
Seeing her response, Archer smiled and said, "Alright, meet us by the exit when you're ready."
He then walked away with the three girls trailing behind him. Nala asked with curiosity, "Archie, why did you ask her to join?"
Archer gathered the three girls aside, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I couldn't help but notice she seemed uncomfortable and no one was speaking to her."
Nala, with a sympathetic nod, stepped forward to explain. "Her family is from a Baron lineage that oversees some farms in the south. Unfortunately, there's a history—her family was once Marquess but was demoted many years ago due to an incident nearly wiping them out. Since then, they've faced prejudice within the Avalon Empire, and people tend to keep their distance."
Archer absorbed the information and felt sorry for the girl. "No wonder she seemed isolated. It's tough when history overshadows who you are now.''
Nala shook her head alongside the other two. That's when Teuila spoke up. ''I've seen her in some of my lessons, but no one talks to or sits beside her.''
Curiosity gnawed at him, and he couldn't help but wonder about the reasons behind Zarina's isolation.
However, he shook off the thought, refocusing on the immediate task. "I'll tell Samara that we've selected ten quests and plan to start them right away," he commented to the group.
The trio of girls nodded in agreement before Archer approached the blonde woman, offering guidance to a group of students.
Samara noticed his presence and greeted him with a smile. She then requested the students she was advising to wait a moment as she walked over to him.
"Hello, Archer. How are you today? Have you selected your group's quests? There are quite a few options available," she inquired.
He smiled charmingly at the woman, Ksara's younger sister, and said, "Yeah, we've picked our quests. Just wanted to let you know we're starting now."
Samara nodded in approval, expressing her satisfaction. "That's good! You have two hours until your next class, so if you were quick, you could complete one quest."
"Okay, we'll get to it now and report back to you when we've completed the first quest," Archer commented as he returned to the girls.
When they saw him, they smiled, apart from Zarina, who gave him a dirty look that made him laugh.
Archer kissed Teuila, Talila, and Nala, which made them happy before the mixed elf asked. ''What is our first quest?''
He took out the ten pieces of paper and examined them.
[Kobold Menace: Eliminate a menacing beast wreaking havoc on villages near the Shadowleaf Forest]
[Enchanted Herb Collection: Gather mystical herbs with unique magical properties from the depths of the Shadowleaf Forest]
[Goblin Extermination: Clear an area infested with goblins located north of Crossroad City]
[Wendigo Threat: Track and eliminate a perilous beast lurking in the Eldertree Grove]
[Orc Marauders: Neutralize a dangerous beast causing chaos in villages near the Shadowleaf Forest]
[Swamp Drake Menace: Eradicate a menacing beast threatening the peace of Riverwatch Town]
[Bugbear Ambush: Tackle a dangerous creature causing terror in villages near the Shadowleaf Forest]
[Vermin Purge: Exterminate the rat infestation in the sewers beneath Silvervein City]
[Troll Rampage: Hunt down the trolls responsible for raiding Starhaven Town]
[Marauding Minotaur Subjugation: Handle a marauding minotaur that poses a threat to travelers]
After Archer finished reading the quests he picked out, but that's when Talila held up two of her own and handed them to him.
He looked at them and started reading.
[Lost Ruins: Delve into ancient ruins south of Silverfrost]
[Bandit Den Raid: Infiltrate and dismantle a notorious bandit group's hideout]
That's when Teuila and Nala gave him one each, so he had fourteen altogether.
[Bandit Hunt: Wipe out the outlaws raiding caravans along the road from Eldoria Town to Serpents Cross City]
[Bandit Hunt: Deal with the bandits hiding in the Whispering Veil]
Following this, Archer addressed the four girls eagerly awaiting his decision. "We'll start with?hunting Kobolds in the Shadowleaf Forest and then collect the herbs."
All four girls nodded, but Zarina commented in a deadpan voice. ''How will we travel that far in two hours? Do you have a magic carpet, or can you fly?''
When she said that, the other three started to laugh, and the redhead didn't know why and was confused.
Archer chuckled before explaining. ''You do remember I'm a dragon, right? Normally, we can fly, but that's not how we travel today.''
After finishing his instructions, he cast Gate to the college entrance, telling the ladies to wait a little while before he summoned them.
Stepping through the portal, he summoned his wings and took off, flying toward the Shadowleaf Forest.
An hour of flight later, he found himself on the other side of the forest, where he spotted a market.
Intrigued, he refrained from exploring it immediately, deciding to save it for later and take one of the girls there.
That's when he cast Gate again, and the three girls walked through as Talila dragged the shocked redhead behind her.
Archer laughed when he saw this catching Zarina's attention. The girl asked while looking around. ''How did you do that, dragon boy?''
''Secrets.'' He answered with a grin, which annoyed the redhead.
Summoning the Tressyms, Archer commanded them to locate any beasts' nests in the forest. The winged cats agreed and swiftly flew off, disappearing into the dense foliage.
As the Tressym ventured into the forest, Archer scanned his surroundings and spotted a small hill.
Deciding to relax there until the cat returned, he began walking toward it, and the girls followed closely behind.
Archer led the four girls to the top of the small hill, where they found a comfortable sitting spot. He used Mana Manipulation to melt all the snow and dry the ground.
The vibrant greenery of the Shadowleaf Forest surrounded them, creating a serene atmosphere.
As they settled down, Archer spoke, "Let's wait here for the Tressym's. They should return soon."
After a brief moment of relaxation, the flying cats returned and gracefully landed near Archer while others found their places beside the others.
The usually moody Zarina began stroking the Tressym's, forming a connection with the magical beast who was rubbing its head against her.
The leader approached him and through a series of visions, showed him the locations of the beast nests.
Archer, in turn, affectionately stroked the head of the little beast as the Tressym's returned to the domain.
He leaped to his feet and exclaimed, "Ladies! Let's go. I know where the Kobolds are."
The girls followed him eagerly. Archer took a moment to strategize with the group as they entered the forest. "Talila, use your bow and fight from a distance. Nala and Teuila, take the front lines. I'll stay in the center to provide support if needed."
Turning to Zarina, he inquired, "What magic do you use for combat?"
Zarina responded with a hint of aloofness, "I specialize in fire and water magic. My expertise lies in long-range combat, not getting up close and personal."
Archer nodded and continued. ''You stay with Talila and make sure she's protected.''
The redhead nodded her head before he stopped talking and continued deeper into the forest.
The air became tense as Archer and the three girls approached the Kobold nest in the heart of the Shadowleaf Forest.
The dense foliage and ancient trees concealed the entrance to the nest, making it a challenging location to navigate.
The rustling leaves, and distant beast calls provided an eerie backdrop to their journey.
Archer took the lead, moving with a stealthy grace that betrayed his draconic heritage. The girls followed closely.
Approaching the Kobold nest, Archer's keen senses detected a subtle change in the surroundings.
He called out, "Stop, girls. I see the herbs we're after. They match the picture on the request."
Nala and Talila volunteered to collect the herbs. Archer acknowledged their choice with a nod, appreciating their nimbleness in navigating the dense vegetation.
As Nala and Talila gathered the enchanted herbs, Archer, Teuila, and Zarina took a leisurely break, awaiting the return of the two girls.
Puzzled by Archer's apparent lack of vigilance, Zarina inquired, "Why aren't we on guard?"
Before Archer could respond, Teuila said, "Darling possesses the ability to sense approaching enemies, sparing us the need to expend energy on constant vigilance.''
After a short while, Nala and Talila returned with a bag filled with the magical herbs. They handed it to Archer, who skillfully stored it in his Item Box with a satisfied nod.
As they neared the Kobold nest, a repugnant stench filled the air, assaulting their senses with a nauseating combination of foul odors. Archer grimaced, clearly uncomfortable with the smell.
Zarina wrinkled her nose and commented, "What is that horrendous odor? It's like a mix of rotting garbage and something worse."
Archer responded, "It's probably the scent of the Kobold nest. They might have some unsavory habits or something in there."
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